Ashtray



C. J. SEEZ March 9, 1937.

ASHTRAY Filed Feb. 25, 1936 YINVENTOR: Chrisiimn @hn 5e55,

TTORN E YS Patented Mar. 9, 1937 .UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to an ash tray, and more particularly to a tray which is discardable in the sense that it is designed to be thrown away after use rather than emptied and used again.

One object of the invention is to provide an ash tray of very inexpensive manufacture and simple construction. A further object is to provide a tray which is readily adapted to be folded or collapsed to the form of a bag-shaped receptacle, whereby the contents may be gathered up and discarded with the tray. Desirably, also, the tray is so constructed that when collapsed to the form of a bagshaped receptacle it may be closed and sealed at the mouth, shutting off the supply of air, and

thereby smothering burning cigarettes, cigars,

matches, or the like.

In its preferred form, the ash tray of this invention is made of very thin, readily bendable, and non-inflammable material, such as aluminum foil, and it is designed to afford a fire-proof receptacle for the sort of debris usuallycollected in ash trays, so that it can be discarded without fire hazard. Moreover, the ash tray is so formed that it is adapted to be elevated and stabilized with respect to the table or other support on which it rests. Accordingly, there is no danger of injuring the surface of the support, and yet the tray is sufficiently balanced to keep it from tilting when it carries a cigarette or cigar, or

when such articles are knocked against it to take off ashes. The tray is also so designed and proportioned that it may readily'be collapsed about its contents and sealed preparatory to disposal.

Other objects and advantages characterizing my invention will become more fully apparent from the description hereinafter set forth of one example or embodiment thereof, having reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing;

Fig. I represents in dot-and-dash lines a sheet of metal from which the ash tray is blanked out,

and shows in full lines the configuration of the blank formed in the first step of manufacturing and sealed to prevent leakage of the contents; and

Fig. VI represents a cross section of the collapsed tray, taken as indicated by the lines VIVI of Fig. V. 5

With reference to Fig. I of the drawing, the ash tray of this invention is preferably manufactured from a square sheet, indicated in dot-and-dash lines at I, of thin, bendable, fire-resistant material, such as aluminum foil. The first step in the manufacture of the article consists in cutting out the blank, indicated at 2, from which the entire body of the tray is subsequently formed. It will be noted that the tabs 3 formed at the comers of the sheet I subsequently serve to form rests for cigarettes or cigars, as well as to form locking means for sealing the tray when collapsed. .By forming the tabs 3 at diametrically opposite points corresponding to the four corners of the sheet from which the tray is blanked out, a minimum of material is wasted. The blank 2, cut out in the manner described, is pressed to the tray shape configuration shown in Figs. II and III. As thus formed, it comprises a base 4, an upstanding wall 5, and an outwardly extending rim 6. Integrally formed with the rim 6 are the tabs 3 which constitute rests for cigarettes or the like, and these tabs are preferably curved in the customary manner to prevent the cigarettes from rolling.

On the base 4, a central groove 1, desirably of v-shaped cross-section, is formed, the groove extending entirely across the base through the center thereof and continuing upwardly along opposite sides of the wall 5. Additional grooves 8 join the central groove 1 at such angles that the series of grooves substantially cover the base. The formation of the V-shaped grooves I and 8 presents at the under side of the ash tray complementary shaped ribs la and 8a, which stiffen the base, elevate the tray above the surface upon which it is supported, and form an air space between this surface and the base 4. The ribs la and 8a are so disposed as to form stabilizing means for preventing the tray from tipping.

When the ash tray is filled, it is adapted to be collapsed to the form represented in Figs. V and VI, the two sides of the tray folding togetherabout the central groove I, and the two halves of the rim 6 being brought into engagement with each other and then locked together by bending over the tabs 3. When thus collapsed, the tabs 3 are spaced at intervals along the mouth of the receptacle, and they serve to lock the two halves 55 of the rim 6 substantially throughout the length thereof. In this manner the receptacle is suflllciently sealed against the admission of air to the cause burning matches, or cigarettes, to be extinguished.

It will be noted that the formation of the ash tray of this invention in the manner herein specified, -gives added advantage in that the parts of the tray are stiffened and braced in such manner that when the material is folded it acquires the desired shape shown in Fig. V. More particularly, the crimping of the rim 6 strengthens the same, so that the two halves thereof retain their shape and grip each other when folded together; and the provision of the diagonal ribs 8:; strengthens the base, helps to force the closing of the tray by bending along the central groove 1, and also helps to give the desired shape to the receptacle formed by folding the tray.

While I have described one specific example of an ash tray of my invention, it will be apparent that various modifications may be made as to the material, the design and shape of the tray, and that certain features herein described may be used to advantage without the use of other features, all without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A discardable ash tray comprising a body of bendable material having a crease across the base thereof, the body being so designed that it is adapted to be folded about said crease to convert it to a bag-shaped closed receptacle for housing its contents.

2. A discardable ash tray comprising a body of bendable material normally tray-shaped and having an outwardly extending rim, and a crease across the base, the body being so designed that it is adapted to be folded about said crease to convert it to the shape of a bag closed at the mouth by interengagement of the two halves of the rim.

3. A discardable ash tray comprising a body of thin bendable material normally tray-shaped and adapted to be folded to form a closed bagshaped receptacle for the contents, said body having integral formations at the base thereof for spacing the tray from the support upon which it rests.

4. A discardable ash tray comprising a body of thin bendable material normally tray-shaped and adapted to be folded to form a closed receptacle for the contents, said body having integral formations at the base thereof, including a rib extending entirely across said base for spacing the tray from the support upon which it rests. and said rib serving additionally as a crease about which the body may be folded.

5. A discardable ash tray comprising a body of thin bendable material normally tray-shaped and adapted to be folded to form a closed receptacle for the contents, said body having ribs across the base thereof forming angles with each other and serving to space the'tray from the support upon which it rests, one of said ribs serving additionally as a crease about which the body may be folded.

6. A discardable ash tray comprising a body of bendable material normally tray-shaped and adapted to be collapsed to form a closed receptacle for the contents, said body having a projection on its rim serving as a means for sealing 8. A discardable ash tray comprising a body of bendable material having a crease extending across the base and continuing upwardly on opposite sides thereof, and having an outwardly extending rim with an integral projection thereon serving as a rest for a cigarette or the like, said body being adapted to be folded about said crease to the shape of a bag closed at the mouth by interengagement of the two halves of the rim and sealed by means of the projection aforesaid.

9. A discardable ash tray comprising a body of bendable material having V-s'haped grooves projecting beneath the base and forming angles with each other to elevate and stabilize the tray with respect to the support upon which it rests, said body being adapted to be folded about one of said grooves to form a closed receptacle for housing the contents. 7

10.,A discardable ash tray comprising a body of bendable material having an outwardly extending annular rim and a crease extending across the base and opposite sides of the body, and having projecting tabs at diametrically opposite points on said rim whereby the body is adapted to be folded about said crease to form a closed receptacle for the contents and sealed by bending the tabs aforesaid.

' CHRISTIAN JOHN SEEZ. 

